Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St Safety Improvements
Updated January 13, 2023
What's Happening Now?
We are preparing for construction of this project, beginning as soon as summer 2023. For project updates, check back on this webpage or sign up for our email updates.
Public art selected
Perched at the apex of Highland Park Way SW a larger-than-life Steller’s Jay will soon watch over the neighborhood. This new artwork concept, tentatively titled “Where’s the Party” by artist Matthew Mazzotta was selected by a community selection panel to be part of the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St Safety Improvements project.
The artwork concept tentatively titled "“Where’s the Party” by artist Matthew Mazzotta was selected by a community selection panel.
Project Overview
Highland Park Way SW is a major north-south route in West Seattle, providing access to SR 99, SR 509, I-5, and the Duwamish Trail. It has been the site of several crashes and safety issues due to poor sight distances, high speeds, travel lane confusion, and a lack of pedestrian facilities like crosswalks. Additionally, it is now a major intersection on the detour route for the West Seattle Bridge closure. The Highland Park community had been asking for changes at this busy intersection. The project includes:
- A more durable traffic signal with metal poles that have signal lights instead of lights connected to wooden poles.
- The signal will also include traffic cameras to monitor and adjust the signal in real-time, as well as vehicle detection in the pavement so the signal can recognize when a person driving is waiting at the light.
- Rebuilding all four corners of the intersection with new American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible concrete curb ramps and curb bulbs.
- Painting permanent crosswalks at each crossing.
1% Art Funding
We secured 1% art funding for this project! The City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture will implement an artwork tentatively titled “Where’s the Party” by artist Matthew Mazzotta. Learn more about the artwork on the Art Beat Blog.
The artwork concept tentatively titled "“Where’s the Party” by artist Matthew Mazzotta was selected by a community selection panel.
Project Design
The design graphic below shows all four corners of the intersection are being rebuilt to include curb ramps and a permanent traffic signal will replace the temporary traffic signal that was installed after the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge closure.
The permanent signal will have more durable, metal poles with signal lights instead of lights affixed to wooden poles. We'll also add traffic cameras to monitor and adjust the signal in real-time, as well as vehicle detection in the pavement so the signal can recognize when a vehicle is waiting at the light.
West Seattle High-Rise Bridge Closure Impacts
The closure of the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge on March 23, 2020 brought significant traffic to the Highland Park neighborhood and to the already-strained intersection of Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St. One of the first projects we built shortly after the bridge first closed was a temporary signal at the intersection. This temporary signal will be replaced by a permanent signal as part of the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St Safety Improvements project.
Traffic Calming
In June and July 2020, speed humps and cushions were built in nine locations near the intersection to support safety around the new traffic signal. These locations are shown below. The speed humps and cushions help slow down vehicles as they approach the intersection and discourage neighborhood cut-through traffic. Speed humps are a solid hump across the road and speed cushions leave spaces between for emergency vehicles and people biking to easily pass through.
Separate from this project, the Reconnect West Seattle project team added traffic calming in the Highland Park neighborhood to address detour traffic from the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge closure, through a Home Zone. A Home Zone involves the entire neighborhood working together to prioritize improvements that calm traffic on residential streets and improve pedestrian mobility and neighborhood livability.
Schedule
The project has reached final design. We originally scheduled construction at this intersection for fall 2021. During the West Seattle Bridge closure, out of sensitivity for Highland Park neighbors who are already experiencing increased traffic and the travelers who use the intersection, construction has been moved to start in 2023.
Materials
- SDOT Blog: Construction after the West Seattle Bridge reopens
- Highland Park Action Coalition Meeting (October 28, 2020)
- 30% design intersection graphic (Fall 2020)
- Design outreach (Spring-Summer 2020)
- Speed humps and cushions postcard (June 2020)
- Highland Park Action Coalition Meeting (May 27, 2020)
- Project mailer (May 2020)
- Early design plans for public input (May 2020)
Funding
This project is funded by the 9-year Levy to Move Seattle, approved by voters in 2015.